Lexus wants to double North American hybrid sales

The Japanese automaker may be by far the biggest seller of hybrids in the US, but it still wants to increase hybrid sales from its Lexus luxury badge.

Lexus, whose hybrids account for about 10 percent of its US sales, is looking to move that number closer to its global average – about 20 percent – Automotive News reports, citing Lexus executive Kazuo Ohara. The path to increased hybrid sales might be paved with the introduction and updates of models such as the ES 300h sedan. As it is, through September, Lexus increased its US hybrid sales by 36 percent compared to 2011 numbers, to almost 26,000 vehicles.

Lexus has priced the ES 300h hybrid with just a $2,750 price premium over the conventional version. The hybrid gets a fuel-economy rating of 40 miles per gallon combined.

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Honestly.. i'd rebadge a Prius with Lexus logos, a more Lexus-y body style, and make all the the top end Prius options standard in the base model Lexus version. Tack a few thousand dollars onto the price tag and call it a day. People will literally buy it just because it's a Lexus that gets the same fuel economy as the regular Prius. It would be definitely more popular than the CT.

I'm sure Prius and Lexus programs fight over engineering bragging rights. I think Prius will always be Toyota's most fuel-efficient car and Lexus will never make a rebadged model. But with plug-in hybrids, Lexus can stuff more & better batteries in the car. That gives them more performance and more range for the money, which many buyers will consider worthwhile.

I think they will have trouble selling the ES300 hybrids once the new Lincoln MKZ hybrid comes out. It has it beat on pricing and efficiency. Yes I know, it's Lexus vs Lincoln and that alone will make people get the Lexus. But I think Lincoln has a viable luxury hybrid sedan option.

They didn't say they were going to make better luxury hybrids just that they want to sell more. So they are just going to do more marketing/advertising of their existing hybrids. Hey Toyota! Sell your Tesla powered RavEv in more markets! The converj is coming out soon - whats your answer?

@ paulwesterberg The Toyota RAV EV, is very expensive and range limited. It has little appeal outside those EV enthusiasts believing in old conspiracy theories. It's a bit difficult to understand anyone buying a RAV EV, which is basically a vehicle designed to be antipathy of what an EV is all about. Be honest, mock SUV's are largely a fashion statement. The overwhelming majority have little or no off-road capacity, and most are not even 4WD. Less functional than mini-vans, and in no way superior to station wagons. I own a 4WD SUV EV. But that vehicle is equipped to travel off road equal to any ICE 4WD. With a range in excess of 200 + miles at freeway speeds, it can hold it's own in the more confined distances of the UK. The sooner the fashion for urban, mock SUV's dies out, the better.